ENHANCED HAIR SETTING ROLLERS AND HAIR ROLLER HEATING APPARATUS

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to hair styling and, more particularly, is concerned with hair setting rollers having enhanced styling features.

Background Art

[0002] A long-established practice of hair dressers and others is to use hair setting rollers to form waves and/or curls in a person's hair in order to achieve the hair style desired by the person. Various designs of hair setting rollers have been used for this purpose.

[0003] Representative examples of prior art designs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,916,919 to Giordano, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,526,184, 4,603,706 and 4,627,452 to Caruso, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,613 to Ho. A common feature of these prior art hair roller designs is an elongated main body, such as a cylinder or tube, about which hair is rolled and then secured in order to remain wrapped thereon for a desired period of time to allow the hair to set in its wrapped or curled condition. These prior art hair rollers additionally provide a variety of other features which are intended to function in conjunction with the main body to attain optimum hair styling results.

[0004] For example, the hair roller of U.S. Pat. No. 3,916,919 combines with its main body a hair holding clip in the form of a pair of resilient fingers or a bent rod, a first rubber band extending through the body and attached to the clip, and a second rubber band extendable longitudinally around the body to retain various parts of the hair roller assembled together and to serve as a preliminary holder of hair against the body. After hair is rolled about the body the first rubber band attached to the clip can be stretched to permit placement and retention of the clip over an edge of the body so as to hold the rolled hair about the body. The second rubber band is retained about the body by passing across recesses formed by a crenelled edge on one end of the body.

[0005] The hair rollers of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,526,184, 4,603,706 and 4,627,452 combine with their main bodies either external projections formed between longitudinal slots in the body to make intimate contact with the hair, arcuate fingers or teeth formed along side edges of the longitudinal slots in the body to catch and comb hair wrapped around the body, or a sleeve of a porous foam material surrounding the body. The hair roller also can have either a separate semi-cylindrical shield with which to handle the roller and to partially surround and retain the wrapped hair on the main body, or a separate or attached hair clip applied over the edge of the main body to embrace a portion of the wrapped hair and retain it thereon.

[0006] The hair roller of U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,613 combines with its main body a number of molded-in helically contoured grooves for facilitating winding of hair around the body by providing ridges that grip the hair. The hair roller also has a U-shaped hair clipping device pivotally attached to one end of the body and having a spherical tip which snaps into a groove molded in the opposite end of the body for securing the hair wound around the helical contours on the body.

[0007] However, some of the aforementioned features of these prior art hair rollers would appear in practice to create drawback in terms of decreasing the ease with which the hair rollers can be used and of increasing the complexity and thus the cost of the hair rollers. As a result, these prior art hair rollers fail to provide an optimum combination of features which would greatly enhance and facilitate the ability of hair dressers and others to easily and quickly manipulate the hair rollers so as to wrap and set a person's hair in a manner which would minimize the amount of handling of and contact with the hair and thereby maximize the likelihood of achievement of the desired hair styling results.

[0008] Consequently, a need still exists for improvements in the design of hair rollers so as to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art hair rollers without introducing new drawbacks in their place.

[0009] A hair roller in accordance with the precharacterizing portion of Claim 1 is disclosed in US-A-3,605,763.

[0010] The present invention is defined in the appended Claims 1 to 24 which are incorporated herein

Disclosure of Invention

[0011] The present invention provides hair setting rollers which satisfy the aforementioned needs by incorporating enhanced hair rolling and setting features. The hair rollers of the present invention are user-friendly in terms of ease of manipulation for quickly winding or rolling and thus setting a person's hair to achieved the desired hair styling results.

[0012] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a hair roller which comprises: (a) an elongated body having an annular cross-sectional shape around which hair can be wound between a pair of opposite ends of the body for styling a person's hair; (b) a hair clip having a hair-engagable blade portion disposed longitudinally along and overlying an exterior side portion of the body and of curved cross-sectional shape conforming to the annular cross-sectional shape of the body; and (c) means for mounting hair clip to the body for undergoing pivotal movement relative to the body along an arcuate path between a closed position adjacent to the exterior side portion of the body and an opened position angularly displaced from the exterior side portion of the body such that a portion of the hair is retained between the blade portion of the hair clip and the exterior side portion of the body when the hair clip is at the closed position and is released from between the blade portion of the hair clip and the exterior side portion of the body when the hair clip is pivotally moved toward the opened position. The hair clip further has a lever portion attached to and extending away from at least one of a pair of opposite ends of the blade portion for engagement by a finger of a user to cause pivotal movement of the hair clip from the closed position to the opened position. The exterior side portion of the body of the hair roller which underlies the blade portion of the hair clip can be inwardly offset from the remainder of the body which permits the blade portion to overlie and be seated on the inwardly offset exterior side portion substantially within an exterior annular profile of the body. The body defines an interior chamber and has a plurality of spaced apart openings, such as holes or slots, defined through the body for providing communication from the interior chamber to the hair wound around the body.

[0013] The hair roller also comprises an elastic anchoring element made of a stretchible material longitudinally extendable along the body between the opposite ends thereof so as to extend over and thereby anchor thereon the hair wound about the body. The hair roller further comprises a heat retaining member disposed in an interior chamber of the body and adapted to receive heating producing energy from an external source through one end of the body and to retain the heat so produced by the energy for later release to the hair wound around the body during a period of use of the roller.

[0014] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the hair roller of the present invention having an elongated body, a hair clip pivotally mounted at one end of the body, and an elastic anchoring element attached at the other end of the body.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the hair roller similar to that of Fig. 1, also having a porous outer sleeve disposed about the elongated body of the roller.

Fig. 2A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the hair roller taken along line 2A--2A of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3A is a side elevational view of the hair roller of Fig. 1 with the elongated body and hair clip in an exploded relationship, the elongated body having a plurality of slots of a first form in the body, and the elastic anchoring element being omitted.

Fig. 3B is a side elevational view of the elongated body of the hair roller having a plurality of helical slots in the body.

Fig. 3C is a side elevational view of the elongated body of the hair roller having a plurality of slots of a second form in the body.

Fig. 3D is a side elevational view of the elongated body of the hair roller having a plurality of slots of a third form in the body.

Fig. 3E is a side elevational view of the elongated body of the hair roller having a plurality of holes in the body.

Fig. 4A is a fragmentary perspective view of the elongated body of the hair roller of Fig. 1 having a plurality of retention elements of a first form on the body.

Fig. 4B is a fragmentary perspective view of the elongated body of the hair roller having a plurality of retention elements of a second form on the body.

Fig. 4C is a fragmentary perspective view of the elongated body of the hair roller having a plurality of retention elements of a third form on the body.

Fig. 4D is a fragmentary perspective view of the elongated body of the hair roller having a plurality of retention elements of a fourth form on the body.

Fig. 4E is a fragmentary perspective view of the elongated body of the hair roller having a plurality of retention elements of a fifth form on the body.

Fig. 4G is a fragmentary perspective view of the elongated body of the hair roller having a plurality of retention elements of a sixth form on the body.

Fig. 5A is a side elevational view of the hair roller of Fig. 1 with the elongated body and hair clip in an assembled relationship and the hair clip shown in a full line form in a closed position adjacent to the elongated body and in a dashed line form in an opened position angularly displaced from the elongated body.

Fig. 5B is a side elevational view of the hair clip and elongated body of the hair roller with the hair clip having a lever portion in a form modified from that of the lever portion shown in Fig. 5A.

Fig. 5C is a side elevational view of the hair clip and elongated body of the hair roller with the hair clip having a pair of lever portions.

Fig. 6A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the hair clip of the hair roller.

Fig. 6B is another enlarged cross-sectional view of the hair clip of the hair roller.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the hair clip of the hair roller showing details of a section of the hair clip in an enlarged view.

Fig. 8A is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of one end of the elongated body of the hair roller having a first form of the elastic anchoring element attached to an end wall of the body.

Fig. 8B is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of one end the elongated body of the hair roller having a second form of the elastic anchoring element attached to the end wall on the body.

Fig. 8C is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of one end of the elongated body of the hair roller similar to that of Fig. 8B with the elastic anchoring element removed from the end wall on the body.

Fig. 8D is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the other end of the elongated body of the hair roller.

Fig. 8E is another fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the other end of the elongated body of the hair roller.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the hair roller having a metallic hollow core disposed in the elongated body and a hair clip pivotally mounted at one end of the body and extending therefrom about half of the length of the body.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the hair roller having helical ridges formed on the elongated body of the roller.

Fig. 11 is a top view of the hair roller as seen along line 11--11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of the elongated body of the hair roller of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of an end of the elongated body of the hair roller having male and female components shown in side elevational form for removably and mateably fitting the hair clip on the end of the body and latching components for releasably latching the hair clip thereon.

Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of the male plug and latch member attached on a base of the hair clip of the hair roller.

Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the female socket and latch receptacle in the end of the elongated body of the hair roller of Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the male plug and latch member of Fig. 14.

Fig. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of the elongated body of the hair roller.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of one end of the elongated body of the hair roller having a looped element attached to one end wall of the body.

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the other end of the elongated body of the hair roller having the looped element attached to the other end wall of the body.

Fig. 20 is a side elevational view of the hair roller similar to that of Fig. 10 but showing the roller having helical ridges formed on both the elongated body and hair clip of the roller.

Fig. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the hair roller taken along line 21--21 of Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is a side elevational view of the hair roller of Fig. 20 but showing the hair clip in an opened position relative to the elongated body of the roller and also an elastic anchoring element attached to one end of the elongated body.

Fig. 23 is a side elevational view of the hair roller similar to that of Fig. 20 but showing the elongated body of the roller having an inwardly offset longitudinal portion permitting the blade portion of the hair clip to seat within the cylindrical profile of the elongated body.

Fig. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the hair roller taken along line 24--24 of Fig. 23.

Fig. 25 is a partially cutaway side elevational view of a hair roller containing one embodiment of a heat retaining member therein.

Fig. 26 is a partially cutaway side elevational view of a hair roller containing another embodiment of a heat retaining member therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1, 3A, 5A and 6A, there is illustrated a hair roller of the present invention, generally designated 10, for use in hair styling. The hair roller 10 has enhanced hair rolling and setting features, as described hereinafter, which are user-friendly in terms of ease of manipulation for quickly winding or rolling and thus setting a person's hair to achieved the desired hair styling results. The hair roller 10 is adapted to be employed with and heated by a suitable heating apparatus.

[0017] Basically, the hair roller 10 includes an elongated body 12, a hair clip 14 pivotally mounted at one end of the body 12, and an elastic anchoring element 16 which preferably, although not necessarily, is attached at the other end of the body 12. Also, the hair roller 10 preferably, although not necessarily, has a porous outer sleeve 18 preferably made of a flexible spongy foam-like material. The outer sleeve 18 surrounds the body 12 and extends between the opposite ends thereof.

[0018] More particularly, the elongated body 12 of the hair roller 10 is preferably hollow and includes an elongated tubular sidewall 20, preferably cylindrical in shape, and a pair of annular rims 22, 24 attached to respective opposite ends of the tubular sidewall 20. The annular rims 22, 24 have outside diameters greater than the outside diameter of the tubular sidewall 20 such that an exterior cylindrical surface 20A of the tubular sidewall 20 is recessed inwardly from exterior annular surfaces 22A, 24A of the annular rims 22, 24. As seen in Figs. 2 and 2A, the porous outer sleeve 18 is confined in the annular space extending between the annular rims 22, 24 and is seated about the exterior cylindrical surface 20A of the tubular sidewall 20 and extends between the annular rims 22, 24. The tubular sidewall 20 is thus adapted for having hair wound or rolled around it (and thus around the outer sleeve 18 surrounding and overlying the sidewall 20) for setting and thus styling a person's hair.

[0019] The elongated body 12 of the hair roller 10 also preferably includes respective opposite end walls 26, 28 connected to the opposite annular rims 22, 24 at the opposite ends of the body 12. Further, the tubular sidewall 20 and opposite end walls 26, 28 of the elongated body 12 define an interior chamber 30 while the tubular sidewall 20 has a plurality of spaced apart openings 32 defined therethrough which provide flow communication of a heated medium, such as air or steam, and liquids and the like from the interior chamber 30 to the porous outer sleeve 18 and thereby to hair wound around the outer sleeve 18 and tubular sidewall 20. At least one of the opposite end walls 26, 28 of the body 12 has an aperture 34 formed therein through which can be inserted a suitable element (not shown) into the interior chamber 30, such as provided by the heating apparatus of the cross-referenced application, in order to supply the heated medium into the interior chamber. The other opposite end wall 26, 28 can be closed.

[0020] Referring to Figs. 3A to 3E, there are illustrate different configurations of the openings 32. Fig. 3A (and also Figs. 1 and 5A-5C) depict a plurality of circumferentially spaced and longitudinal extending substantially full-length slots 36 formed through the sidewall 20 which have generally rectangular shapes. Fig. 3B depicts a plurality of helical slots 38 formed through the sidewall 20 and spaced from one another along a longitudinal axis of the elongated body 12. Fig. 3C depicts a plurality of partial-length slots 40 formed through the sidewall 20 and being of generally rectangular shape and aligned and spaced apart in axial columns and circumferential rows and being much shorter in length than, and thus of partial-length compared to, the full-length slots 36. Fig. 3D depicts a plurality of slots 42 similar to those of Fig. 3C except that the slots 42 in every other axial row are aligned with one another and axially offset relative to the slots 42 in adjacent axial rows. Fig. 3E depicts a plurality of round holes 44 formed through the sidewall 20 and being aligned and spaced apart in axial columns and circumferential rows. Other configurations of the openings 32 are possible within the purview of the present invention. Also, as seen in Figs. 10-12, the round holes 44 through the sidewall 20 can be overlaid with a variety of raised symbols, such as in the form of stars 41, formed on the exterior surface 20A of the sidewall 20. The tubular sidewall 20 of the body 12 also can have a plurality of elongated raised rib or ridge elements 43 formed on the exterior surface 20A of the sidewall 20 and protruding outwardly therefrom and extending in a helical direction thereabout and being spaced apart from one another in an axial direction along the sidewall 20. The helical ridge elements 43 are interrupted and absent from the exterior side portion of the sidewall 20 underlying the blade portion 50 of the hair clip 14.

[0021] Furthermore, as seen in Fig. 9, the hair roller 10 can have a metallic sleeve 45 installed within the tubular sidewall 20 for improving conduction of heat to the hair wound around the tubular sidewall 20. The sleeve 45 preferably has a cylindrical shape and is of a size adapted to insert and snugly fit within the interior chamber 30 of the body 12.

[0022] Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 3A, 5A-5C, 6A, 6B, 7, 10 and 11, there is illustrated the hair clip 14 of the hair roller 10 being mounted to one end of the elongated body 12 by a mounting means 46 for undergoing pivotal movement along an arcuate path P (see Figs. 5A-5C and 9) between closed and opened positions relative to the body 12, and also being biased to move from the opened position to the closed position by biasing means 48. The closed and opened positions of the hair clip 14 are shown respectively in solid and dashed line forms in both Figs. 5 and 9.

[0023] Preferably, the hair clip 14 includes a hair-engagable blade portion 50 and at least one lever portion 52. The blade portion 50 of the hair clip 14 is disposed along and overlying an exterior side portion of the tubular sidewall 20 of the body 12. As seen in Figs. 6A and 6B, the blade portion 50 has an arcuate or curved cross-sectional shape conforming to the annular cross-sectional shape of the tubular sidewall 20 of the body 12. Preferably, the annular cross-sectional shape of the tubular sidewall 20 is that of a cylinder. The arcuate or curved shape of the blade portion 50 is that of an arc falling within a range of from 60° to 120°, and preferably has an approximately 90° or a quarter cylindrical shape, substantially conforming to the 360° cylindrical shape of the tubular sidewall 20 of the body 12. In the closed position of the hair clip 14, the blade portion 50 extends closely along and adjacent to the tubular sidewall 20 of the body 12 substantially the entire distance between the annular rims 22, 24 at the opposite ends of the body 12 such that a portion of the hair is retained between the blade portion 50 and the tubular sidewall 20 of the body 12. In the opened position of the hair clip 14, the blade portion 50 is angularly displaced from the tubular sidewall 20 of the body 12 such that the hair portion is released from between the blade portion 50 of the hair clip 14 and the tubular sidewall 20 of the body 12. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 9, the blade portion 50 of the hair clip 14 can be provided to extend along the exterior side portion of the tubular sidewall 20 of the body 12 only about half of the distance between opposite annular rims 22, 24 at the opposite ends of the body 12. Also, alternatively, as shown in Fig. 17 the elongated body 12 can have an hourglass shape wherein the diameter of the body 12 decreases from the outer ends to the middle thereof. The blade portion of the hair clip (not shown) would have a curved shape both longitudinally and cross-sectionally that conforms to that of the exterior contour of the body 12 of the hair roller 10.

[0024] Also, referring to Fig. 7, the blade portion 50 of the hair clip 14 has an interior surface 50A facing toward the exterior side portion of the tubular sidewall 20 of the hair roller body 12 and means thereon in the form of a plurality of teeth 54 formed on and extending outwardly from the interior surface 50A of the blade portion 50. When the hair clip 14 is in its closed position, the teeth 54 interengage the portion of the hair being retained between the blade portion 50 and the tubular sidewall 20 of the body 12 so as to enhance the ability of the hair clip 14 to grip and retain that portion of the hair as the body 12 is then rolled relative to the hair to wind the hair about the tubular sidewall 50. As can readily seen in Fig. 7, the teeth 54 are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the blade portion 50 of the hair clip 14 extending between opposite ends of the blade portion. The blade portion 50 of the hair clip also has at least one and preferably a pair of slots 55 defined through the blade portion extending longitudinally between the opposite ends of the blade portion 50. The slots 55 permit passage of liquids and heated medium through the blade portion 50 of the hair clip 14.

[0025] The lever portion 52 of the hair clip 14 is provided to extend outwardly beyond and away from the hair clip mounting means 46 and the adjacent one of the rims 22, 24 at the opposite ends of the body 12 to make it convenient for a user to grip the hair clip 14 with his or her fingers and actuate the hair clip by applying sufficient force thereto to cause hair clip 14 to pivot from its closed to opened position against the force of the biasing means 48 which biases the hair clip 14 to move toward its closed position. It will be readily observed in Fig. 5A that the lever position 52 so positioned is capable of pivoting through an arc lying wholly outside of the adjacent end of the body 12. As seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3A, 5A-5C, 7 and 9, the lever portion 52 is provided on at least one end of the hair clip 14 and optionally can be provided on both ends thereof, as shown in Fig. 5C. Furthermore, the lever portion 52 can be provided in various orientations relative to the blade portion 50 of the hair clip 14. For example, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3A, 5A, 5C, 7 and 9, the lever portion 52 can have a slighly upward curved shape and more so curved as shown in Fig. 5B.

[0026] Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 3A-3E, 5A-5C, 6A, 6B, 7 and 9-11, the mounting means 46 of the hair roller 10 is provided to mount the hair clip 14 adjacent one end of its blade portion 50 to the elongated body 12 at the one annular rim 22 thereof. The hair clip 14 is so mounted to undergo pivotal movement relative to the tubular sidewall 20 along the arcuate path P between the closed position adjacent to the exterior side portion of the sidewall 20 and the opened position angularly displaced from the exterior side portion of the sidewall 20. More particularly, preferably the mounting means 44 includes a pair of spaced apart tabs 56 attached on the exterior annular surface 22A of the one annular rim 22 and extending outwardly therefrom, and a cylindrical pin 58 extending between and mounted to the tabs 56 and rotatably or pivotally mounted through a pair of spaced lugs 60 on the one end of the hair clip 14. Preferably, the annular rim 22 supporting the tabs 56 and pivot pin 58 is non-rotatably fixedly attached to the end of the tubular sidewall 20 of the body 12. However, in one illustrated embodiment shown in Fig. 8E, the annular rim 22 and end wall 26 are attached together and rotatably mounted to the end of the tubular sidewall 20 by mated complementary annular shaped lips 62, 64 formed respectively on the annular rim 22 and the end of the sidewall 20. In this one embodiment, the rotation of the annular rim 22 relative to the sidewall 20 will permit the hair clip 14 to be positioned at any desired angular location about the body 12.

[0027] As best seen in Fig. 10, the biasing means 48 preferably is a coiled spring 48 encircling and thus mounted to the pivot pin 58 between the spaced lugs 60 on the hair clip 14. The coiled spring 48 has opposite ends 48A, 48B which engage the body 12 and hair clip 14 and apply a biasing force in a clockwise direction with reference to Fig. 10 that causes the hair clip 14 to pivotally move from the opened position to the closed position relative to the sidewall 20 of the body 12. The user can grip the lever portion 52 of the hair clip 14 and easily apply an actuating force thereto which overcomes the biasing force of the coiled spring 48 and causes the spring to yield and permit pivoting of the hair clip 14 to the opened position. However, once the user releases the lever portion 52 of the hair clip 14, the biasing force takes over and causes the hair clip 14 to then pivotally move from the opened position back to the closed position against the sidewall 20 of the body 12.

[0028] Referring to Figs. 13-16, instead of providing the hair roller 10 with the tabs 56 of the mounting means 46 rigidly attached to the one annular rim 22 on the body 12, as an alternative thereto the mounting means 46 can be configured to be removably inserted into an end of the body 12 for mounting the hair clip 14 thereto. With respect to this alternative construction which is illustrated in Figs. 13-16, the mounting means 46 now further includes a female socket 66 and a base 68 with a male plug 70, and a latch receptacle 72 and latch member 74. The female socket 66 is defined in the end of the body 12 having the one annular rim 22. The base 68 is pivotally mounted to one end of the hair clip 14 and has the male plug 70 attached thereto and projecting outwardly therefrom. The male plug 70 is of a size slightly less than the size of the female socket 66 so as to permit insertion into and mateable fitting within the female socket 66 and thereby securely mount the base 68 within the annular rim 22 of the end of the body 12.

[0029] The latch receptacle 72 is also defined in the end of the body 12 adjacent to the female socket 66. The latch member 74 is flexibly connected to the base 68 adjacent to the male plug 70 and is insertable into the latch receptacle 72 upon insertion of the male plug 70 into the female socket 66. The latch member 74 is movable between a latched position, as seen in Fig. 13, wherein the male plug 70 is retained in the female socket 66 and prevented from being removed therefrom, and an unlatched position wherein the male plug 70 is removable from the female socket 66.

[0030] Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 8A-8D, an elastic hair-anchoring element 16 of the hair roller 10 is made of a stretchible material and is attached to and extends outwardly from the end wall 28. The elastic element 16 is stretchably extendable longitudinally along the sidewall 20 of the body 12 between the annular rims 22, 24 at the opposite ends thereof so as to extend over and thereby anchor thereon the hair wound about the sidewall 20 of the body 12. As seen in Figs. 1, 2, 8B and 10, the elastic element 16 is an endless elastic loop or band of the material attached to the end wall 28 through a hole 76 therein adjacent to the other rim annular 24.

[0031] As seen in Fig. 8C the end wall 28 is mounted for rotation relative to the rim 24 of the body 12 about an axis A and the elastic element 16 is attached to the rotatable end wall 28 at the location of hole 76 offset from the axis of rotation A. As an alternative seen in Fig. 8A, the elastic element can be an elongated elastic strip 78 of the material attached to the end wall 28 through a hole 80 therein. Furthermore, the elastic element 16 can be attached directly to the end wall 28 of the body 12, as depicted in Figs. 1, 2, 8A and 8B, or to a looped element 81 fixed on one or the other of the end walls 26, 28 of the body 12, as depicted in Figs. 18 and 19.

[0032] Referring finally to Figs. 1, 2, 3A-3E, 4A-4F, 5A-5C and 9-11, the hair roller 10 further includes at least one and preferably a plurality of retention elements 82 defined on the other annular rim 24 and end wall 28. The retention elements 82 provide surfaces about which to secure a portion of the elastic element 16 to the opposite end of the body 12. The retention elements can take any of a variety of different configurations. In Figs. 4A, 4D and 4F the retention elements 82 are pluralities of pegs 84 and teeth 86 which project outwardly from the annular rim 24 on the body 12. Fig. 4B illustrates retention elements 82 in the form of internal teeth 88. Figs. 4C and 4E depict retention elements in the form of eyelets 90 which are attached to and extend outwardly from the other annular rim 24 and end wall 28. Retention elements 82 having other configurations are within the purview of the present invention. Thus, the elastic anchoring element 16, being attached at one end to the respective one annular rim 22 and end wall 26 at one end of the body 12, when stretched to encompass at least a side portion of the sidewall 20 of the body 12 and then passed around a selected one or ones of the retention elements 82 is retained over the hair wound around the sidewall 20 and thereby provides a means for anchoring the hair roller 10 to the hair wound thereon.

[0033] Referring to Figs. 20-24, there is shown the hair roller 10 incorporating further modifications of some of the earlier-described components and features of the hair roller 10. First, like the hair roller 10 shown in Figs. 10-12, the sidewall 20 of the elongated body 12 has a plurality of elongated rib or ridge elements 43 defined on and about the exterior surface 20A of the sidewall 20 which are interrupted and absent from the exterior side portion of the sidewall 20 underlying the blade portion 50 of the hair clip 14. However, unlike the hair roller 10 shown in Figs. 10-12, the blade portion 50 of the hair clip 14 on the hair roller 10 of Figs. 20-24 has a plurality of elongated rib or ridge protrusions 92 defined on the exterior surface 50B of the blade portion 50 which protrude outwardly therefrom and extend in a helical direction and are spaced apart from one another in a lengthwise direction along the blade portion 50 of the hair clip 14. Preferably, the helical ridge protrusions 92 on the blade portion 50 of the hair clip 14 are substantially aligned with the helical ridge elements 43 on the sidewall 20 of the body 12. Second, unlike in the sidewalls 20 of the earlier-described hair rollers 10, the exterior side portion of the sidewall 20 of the hair roller 10 in Figs. 23 and 24 which underlies the blade portion 50 of the hair clip 14 is inwardly offset from the remainder of the sidewall 20 which permits the blade portion 50 of the hair clip 14 to overlie and be seated on the inwardly offset exterior side portion substantially within an exterior profile of the sidewall 50 of the body 12. In the case of the body 12 of the hair roller 10 shown in Figs. 23 and 24, the exterior annular profile is that of a cylinder. The insetting of the blade portion 50 of the hair clip 14 within the exterior annular outline or profile of the hair roller body 12 prevents the hair clip 14 from make an impression or indentation in the hair wound about the body 12.

[0034] Referring to Figs. 25 and 26, there is shown other embodiments of the hair roller 10 incorporating additional features in accordance with the present invention. The hair rollers 10 of Figs. 25 and 26 have the same basic parts as most of the rollers described earlier. These same parts are identified by the same reference numerals. In addition thereto, the hair rollers 10 of Figs. 25 and 26 also include a heat retaining member 94 disposed in the interior chamber 30 of the roller body 12. The heat retaining member 94 is adapted to receive heat producing energy, such as steam in Fig. 25 or electrical current in Fig. 26, from a suitable external source through the one open end 28 of the body 12 and to retain the heat so produced by the energy for later release to the hair wound around the body 12 during a following period of use of roller 10.

[0035] In the one embodiment shown in Fig. 25, the heat retaining member 94 includes an annular tube 96 having a donut shape in cross-section defining an enclosed internal cavity 98 and a heat retaining material 100, such as a suitable wax or the like, contained within and substantially filling the internal cavity 98. The annular tube 96 has radially spaced outer and inner longitudinal walls 102, 104 and a pair of opposite end walls 106 (only one being seen) extending between and interconnecting the opposite ends of the longitudinal walls 102, 104 so as to enclose the internal cavity 98 and the heat retaining material 100 therein. The inside of the annular tube 96 is accessible to the one open end 28 of the body 12 for receiving the steam to cause heating of the annular tube 96 and the wax 100 therein.

[0036] In the other embodiment shown in Fig. 26, the heat retaining member 94 includes a pair of electrical conductors 108, preferably made of a suitable metallic material, having a pair of electrical terminals 108A at one end that are accessible to the one open end 28 of the body 12 and a heat retaining material 110, such as an electrically-conductive ceramic material known as a Positive Temperature Coefficient material, in electrical contact between the pair of electrical conductors 108. The application of an electrical current from the suitable external source to the terminals 108A causes the current to flow through the electrical conductors 108 and also through the heat retaining material 110 such that the heat retaining material 110 is thereby heated and, in turn, causes heating of the electrical conductors 108 which then retain the heat for later release to the hair wound around the body 12 during a following period of use of roller 10.

[0037] It should be readily apparent that the hair roller can be provided in different diameter sizes while retaining all of the above-described features which provide for enhanced rolling and setting of hair for achieving superior hair styling results. Furthermore, the hair roller 10 can be employed in conjunction with a suitable heating apparatus, such as described in the present application as published under Publication No. WO 97/11621.
It is thought that the present invention and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims,

Claims

1. A hair roller (10) including an elongated body (12), a hair clip (14) having a hair-engageable blade portion (50) and a lever portion (52), and means (46) mounting the hair clip (14) to the body (12), the body (12) having An annular cross-sectional shape around which hair can be wound between a pair of opposite ends of the body (12) for styling a person's hair, the blade portion (50) of the hair clip (14) extending longitudinally along and overlying an exterior side portion of the body (12) and of curved cross-sectional shape conforming to the annular cross-sectional shape of the body (12), the mounting means (46) mounted at a first of the opposite ends of the body (12) and mounting the hair clip (14) to the body (12) for undergoing pivotal movement relative to the body (12) along an arcuate path between a closed position adjacent to the exterior side portion of the body (12) and an opened position angularly displaced from said exterior side portion of the body (12) such that a portion of the hair is retained between the blade portion (50) of the hair clip (14) and the exterior side portion of the body (12) when the hair clip (14) is at the closed position and is released from between the blade portion (50) of the hair clip (14) and the exterior side portion of the body (12) when the hair clip (14) is pivotally moved toward the opened position, characterized in that the lever portion (52) of the hair clip (14) extends from the mounting means (46) beyond and away from the first of the opposite ends of the body (12) for facilitating engagement by a finger of a user to cause pivotal movement of the lever portion (52) wholly outside of the first end of the body (12) and thereby pivotal movement of the hair clip (14) from the closed position to the open position.

2. The roller (10) of claim 1 further characterized in that the lever portion (52) is attached to and extends away from at least one of a pair of opposite ends of said blade portion (50).

3. The roller (10) of claim 1 further characterized in that the blade portion (50) of the hair clip (14) has an interior surface facing toward the exterior side portion of the body (12) and a plurality of teeth (54) disposed on and extending outwardly from the interior surface, the teeth (54) being spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction extending between a pair of opposite ends of the blade portion (50) of the hair clip (14).

4. The roller (10) of claim 1 further characterized in that the mounting means (46) includes a pair of spaced apart tabs (56) disposed adjacent to the one of the opposite ends of the body (12) and a pin (58) extending between the tabs (56) and pivotally mounted through the hair clip (14) at a location between the blade and lever portions (50, 52) thereof.

5. The roller (10) of claim 4 further characterized in that the mounting means (46) further includes a spring (48) mounted to the pin (58) and biasing the hair clip (14) to pivotally move from the opened position to the closed position relative to the body (12).

6. The roller (10) of claim 1 further characterized in that the body (12) defines an interior chamber (30) and has a plurality of spaced apart elongated slots (36) defined through the body (12) providing communication from the interior chamber (30) to the hair wound around the body (12), the slots (36) being spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction about the body (12) and extending in an axial direction along the body (12) a greater distance than they extend in the circumferential direction about the body (12).

7. The roller (10) of claim 1 further characterized in that the body (12) defines an interior chamber (30) and has a plurality of spaced apart elongated slots (36) defined through the body (12) providing communication from the interior chamber (30) to the hair wound around the body (12), the slots (36) being spaced apart from one another about the body (12) and extending in a helical direction about the body (12).

8. The roller (10) of claim 1 further characterized in that the body (12) has a plurality of elongated ridge elements (43) defined on an exterior surface of the body (12) protruding outwardly therefrom and extending in a helical direction about the body (12) and spaced apart from one another along the body (12).

9. The roller (10) of claim 8 further characterized in that the blade portion (50) of the hair clip (14) has a plurality of elongated ridge protrusions (92) defined on an exterior surface of the blade portion (50) protruding outwardly therefrom and extending in a helical direction and spaced apart from one another along the blade portion (50) of the hair clip (14).

10. The roller (10) of claim 9 further characterized in that the helical ridge protrusions (92) on the exterior surface of the blade portion (50) of the hair clip (14) are substantially aligned with said helical ridge elements (43) on the exterior surface of the body (12).

11. The roller (10) of claim 8 further characterized in that the ridge elements (43) on the exterior surface of the body (12) are interrupted and absent from the exterior side portion of the body (12) underlying the blade portion (50) of the hair clip (14).

12. The roller (10) of claim 1 further characterized in the the mounting means (46) includes a female socket (66) defined in one of the opposite ends of the body (12) and a base (68) pivotally mounted to one of the opposite ends of the hair clip (14) and having a male plug (70) attached to and projecting outwardly from the base (68) and being of a size relative to the female socket (66) to insert into and mateably fit within the female socket (66) and thereby mount the base to the one end of the body (12).

13. The roller (10) of claim 12 further characterized in that the mounting means (46) further includes a latch receptacle (72) defined in the one end of the body (12) adjacent to the female socket (66) and a latch member (74) connected to the base (68) adjacent to the male plug (70) and insertable into the latch receptacle (72) upon insertion of the male plug (70) into the female socket (66), the latch member (74) being movable between a latched position wherein the male plug (70) is retained in the female socket (66),and prevented from being removed therefrom and an unlatched position wherein the male plug (70) is removable from the female socket (66).

14. The roller (10) of claim 1 further characterized in that the exterior side portion of the body (12) is inwardly offset from the remainder of the body (12) permitting the blade portion (50) of the hair clip (14) overlying the exterior side portion to be seated substantially within an exterior annular profile of the body (12).

15. The roller (10) of claim 1 further characterized in that an elastic hair-anchoring element (16) is provided in the form of an endless band made of a stretchable material and attached to the body (12) adjacent to one of the opposite ends thereof and extendable longitudinally along the body (12) and about the other of the opposite ends thereof so as to extend between the opposite ends of the body (12) over and thereby anchor thereon the hair wound about the body (12).

16. The roller (10) of claim 15 further characterized in that at least one retention element (84) is provided on the other of the opposite ends of the body (12) for securing a portion of the elastic element (16) to the other end of the body (12).

17. The roller (10) of claim 1 further characterized in that a porous outer sleeve (18) is provided surrounding the body (12) and extending between the opposite ends of the body (12).

18. The roller (10) of claim 1 further characterized in that the body (12) defines an interior chamber (30) and a heat retaining member (110) is provided in the form of a metallic sleeve having an annular shape and being sized to insert and fit the interior chamber (30) of the body (12).

19. The roller (10) of claim 1 further characterized in that the body (12) has an interior chamber (30) and a plurality of spaced apart openings (44) defined through the body (12) for providing communication from the interior chamber (30) to the hair wound around the body (12) and the interior chamber (3) being accessible through at least at one end of the body (12), and a heat retaining member (94) is disposed in the interior chamber (30) of the body (12) and adapted to receive heat producing energy from an external source through the one end of the body (12) and to retain the heat so produced by the energy for later release to the hair wound around the body (12) during a following period of use of the roller (10).

20. The roller (10) of claim 19 further characterized in that the heat retaining member (94) includes an annular tube (96) accessible to the one end of the body (12) and having a donut shape in cross-section defining an enclosed internal cavity (98), and a heat retaining material (110) contained within the enclosed internal cavity (98) of the annular tube (96).

21. The roller (10) of claim 20 further characterized in that the heat retaining member (94) includes a pair of electrical conductors (108) having a pair of electrical terminals (108A) accessible to the one end of the body (12), and the heat retaining material (110) is electrically conductive and disposed in electrical contact between the electrical conductors (108) such that application of an electrical current to the terminals (108A) passes the current through the electrical conductors (108) and the heat retaining material (110) such that the heat retaining member (110) is thereby heated and causes heating of the electrical conductors (108) which retain the heat for later release to the hair wound around the body (12) during a following period of use of the roller (10).

22. The roller of claim 1 characterized in that a rotatable element (28) is provided rotatably mounted at one of the opposite ends of the body (12) and an elastic hair-anchoring element (16) is provided in the form of a band of stretchable material being attached to the rotatable element (18) at the one end of the body (12) and extendable longitudinally along the body (12) to the other of the opposite ends thereof and securable at the other end of the body (12) to thereby anchor thereon the hair wound about the body (12).

23. The roller (10) of claim 22 further characterized in that the rotatable element (18) is mounted for rotation about an axis and the elastic element (16) is attached to the rotatable element (18) at a location offset from the axis of rotation.

24. The roller (10) of claim 22 further characterized in that at least one retention member (84) mounted at the other end of the body (12) about which the elastic element (16) is securable.

Ansprüche

1. Eine Haarrolle (10), die einen länglichen Körper (12), eine Haarklammer (14), die einen mit Haaren in Eingriff bringbaren Blattabschnitt (50) und einen Hebelabschnitt (52) aufweist, und eine Einrichtung (46), die die Haarklammer (14) an dem Körper (12) anbringt, umfaßt, wobei der Körper (12) eine ringförmige Querschnittsform aufweist, um die zwischen einem Paar von gegenüberliegenden Enden des Körpers (12) zum Stylen des Haars einer Person Haare gewickelt werden können, wobei sich der Blattabschnitt (50) der Haarklammer (14) in Längsrichtung entlang einem Außenseitenabschnitt des Körpers (12) erstreckt und über demselben liegt und eine gekrümmte Querschnittsform aufweist, die zu der ringförmigen Querschnittsform des Körpers (12) konform ist, wobei die Anbringeinrichtung (46) an einem ersten der gegenüberliegenden Enden des Körpers (12) angebracht ist und die Haarklammer (14) an dem Körper (12) anbringt, um eine Drehbewegung relativ zu dem Körper (12) entlang eines bogenförmigen Wegs zwischen einer geschlossenen Position, die zu dem Außenseitenabschnitt des Körpers (12) benachbart ist, und einer geöffneten Position, die von dem Außenseitenabschnitt des Körpers (12) winkelmäßig verschoben ist, zu erfahren, derart, daß ein Teil des Haars zwischen dem Blattabschnitt (50) der Haarklammer (14) und dem Außenseitenabschnitt des Körpers (12) zurückgehalten wird, wenn sich die Haarklammer (14) in der geschlossenen Position befindet, und von seiner Position zwischen dem Blattabschnitt (50) der Haarklammer (14) und dem Außenseitenabschnitt des Körpers (12) freigegeben wird, wenn die Haarklammer (14) zu der geöffneten Position hin gedreht wird, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sich der Hebelabschnitt (52) der Haarklammer (14) von der Anbringeinrichtung (46) über das erste der gegenüberliegenden Enden des Körpers (12) hinaus und weg von demselben erstreckt, um eine Ineingriffnahme durch einen Finger eines Benutzers zu ermöglichen, um eine Drehbewegung des Hebelabschnitts (52), der sich gänzlich außerhalb des ersten Endes des Körpers (12) befindet, und dadurch eine Drehbewegung der Haarklammer (14) von der geschlossenen Position hin zu der offenen Position zu ermöglichen.

2. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 1, ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Hebelabschnitt (52) zumindest an einem von zwei gegenüberliegenden Enden des Blattabschnitts (50) befestigt ist und sich von demselben weg erstreckt.

3. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 1, ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Blattabschnitt (50) der Haarklammer (14) eine Innenoberfläche, die dem Außenseitenabschnitt des Körpers (12) zugewandt ist, und eine Mehrzahl von Zähnen (54) aufweist, die an der Innenoberfläche angeordnet sind und sich von derselben nach außen erstrecken, wobei die Zähne (54) in einer Längsrichtung voneinander beabstandet sind und sich zwischen einem Paar von gegenüberliegenden Enden des Blattabschnitts (50) der Haarklammer (14) erstrecken.

4. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 1, ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Anbringeinrichtung (46) ein Paar von beabstandeten Vorsprüngen (56), die benachbart zu dem einen der gegenüberliegenden Enden des Körpers (12) angeordnet sind, und einen Stift (58) umfaßt, der sich zwischen den Vorsprüngen (56) erstreckt und an einer Stelle zwischen dem Blatt und den Hebelabschnitten (50, 52) derselben durch die Haarklammer (14) drehbar angebracht ist.

5. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Anbringeinrichtung (46) ferner eine Feder (48) umfaßt, die an dem Stift (58) angebracht ist und die Haarklammer (14) vorspannt, um sich von der geöffneten Position zu der geschlossenen Position relativ zu dem Körper (12) zu drehen.

6. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Körper (12) eine Innenkammer (30) definiert und eine Mehrzahl von beabstandeten länglichen Schlitzen (36) aufweist, die durch den Körper (12) definiert sind, was eine Kommunikation von der Innenkammer (30) zu dem um den Körper (12) gewickelten Haar liefert, wobei die Schlitze (36) in einer Umfangsrichtung um den Körper (12) voneinander beabstandet sind und sich eine größere Strecke in einer Axialrichtung entlang dem Körper (12) erstrecken, als sie sich in der Umfangsrichtung um den Körper (12) erstrecken.

7. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 1, ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Körper (12) eine Innenkammer (30) definiert und eine Mehrzahl von beabstandeten länglichen Schlitzen (36) aufweist, die durch den Körper (12) definiert sind, was eine Kommunikation von der Innenkammer (30) zu dem um den Körper (12) gewikkelten Haar liefert, wobei die Schlitze (36) um den Körper (12) herum voneinander beabstandet sind und sich um den Körper (12) in einer schraubenförmigen Richtung erstrecken.

8. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Körper (12) eine Mehrzahl von länglichen Stegelementen (43) aufweist, die auf einer Außenoberfläche des Körpers (12) definiert sind, von derselben nach außen vorstehen, sich in einer schraubenförmigen Richtung um den Körper (12) erstrecken und entlang dem Körper (12) voneinander beabstandet sind.

9. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 8, ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Blattabschnitt (50) der Haarklammer (14) eine Mehrzahl von länglichen Stegvorständen (92) aufweist, die auf einer Außenoberfläche des Blattabschnitts (50) definiert sind, von derselben nach außen vorstehen, sich in einer schraubenförmigen Richtung erstrecken und entlang dem Blattabschnitt (50) der Haarklammer (14) voneinander beabstandet sind.

10. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 9, ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die schraubenförmigen Stegvorstände (92) auf der Außenoberfläche des Blattabschnitts (50) der Haarklammer (14) im wesentlichen mit den schraubenförmigen Stegelementen (43) auf der Außenoberfläche des Körpers (12) ausgerichtet sind.

11. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 8, ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Stegelemente (43) auf der Außenoberfläche des Körpers (12) unterbrochen sind und auf dem Außenseitenabschnitt des Körpers (12), der unter dem Blattabschnitt (50) der Haarklammer (14) liegt, nicht vorhanden sind.

12. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 1, ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Anbringeinrichtung (46) eine in einem der gegenüberliegenden Enden des Körpers (12) definierte Buchse (66) und eine Basis (68) umfaßt, die an einem der gegenüberliegenden Enden der Haarklammer (14) drehbar angebracht ist und einen Stecker (70) aufweist, der an der Basis (68) befestigt ist und von derselben vorsteht und bezüglich der Buchse (66) eine Größe aufweist, um in die Buchse (66) eingeführt zu werden und mit derselben eine Passung aufzuweisen und um dadurch die Basis an dem einen Ende des Körpers (12) anzubringen.

13. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 12, ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Anbringeinrichtung (46) ferner eine Verriegelungsaufnahme (72), die in dem einen Ende des Körpers (12) benachbart zu der Buchse (66) definiert ist, und ein Verriegelungsbauglied (74) umfaßt, das mit der Basis (68) benachbart zu dem Stecker (70) verbunden ist und auf eine Einführung des Steckers (70) in die Buchse (66) hin in die Verriegelungsaufnahme (72) einführbar ist, wobei das Verriegelungsbauglied (74) zwischen einer verriegelten Position, bei der der Stecker (70) in der Buchse (66) gehalten wird und davor bewahrt wird, aus derselben entfernt zu werden, und einer nicht-verriegelten Position, bei der der Stecker (70) aus der Buchse (66) entfernbar ist, beweglich ist.

14. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 1, ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Außenseitenabschnitt des Körpers (12) von dem Rest des Körpers (12) nach innen versetzt ist, was es dem Blattabschnitt (50) der Haarklammer (14), der über dem Außenseitenabschnitt liegt, ermöglicht, im wesentlichen in einem äußeren ringförmigen Profil des Körpers (12) zu sitzen.

15. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 1, ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ein elastisches Haarverankerungselement (16) in Form eines Endlosbands vorgesehen ist, das aus einem dehnfähigen Material hergestellt ist und an dem Körper (12) benachbart zu einem der gegenüberliegenden Enden desselben befestigt ist und in Längsrichtung entlang dem Körper (12) und um das andere der gegenüberliegenden Enden desselben dehnbar ist, um sich zwischen den gegenüberliegenden Enden des Körpers (12) und darüber zu erstrecken und dadurch das um den Körper (12) gewickelte Haar an demselben zu verankern.

16. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 15, ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß mindestens ein Rückhalteelement (84) an dem anderen der gegenüberliegenden Enden des Körpers (12) zum Befestigen eines Abschnitts des elastischen Elements (60) an dem anderen Ende des Körpers (12) vorgesehen ist.

17. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 1, ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß eine poröse Außenhülse (18) vorgesehen ist, die den Körper (12) umgibt und sich zwischen den gegenüberliegenden Enden des Körpers (12) erstreckt.

18. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 1, ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Körper (12) eine Innenkammer (30) definiert und daß ein Wärmerückhaltebauglied (110) in Form einer metallischen Hülse vorgesehen ist, die eine ringförmige Form aufweist und dimensioniert ist, um in die Innenkammer (30) des Körpers (12) eingeführt zu werden und in dieselbe zu passen.

19. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 1, ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Körper (12) eine Innenkammer (30) und eine Mehrzahl von durch den Körper (12) definierten beabstandeten Öffnungen (44) zum Liefern einer Kommunikation zwischen der Innenkammer (30) und dem um den Körper (12) gewundenen Haar aufweist, wobei die Innenkammer (30) durch zumindest ein Ende des Körpers (12) zugänglich ist, und daß ein Wärmerückhaltebauglied (94) in der Innenkammer (30) des Körpers (12) angeordnet und ausgelegt ist, um eine Wärmeerzeugungsenergie von einer externen Quelle durch das eine Ende des Körpers (12) aufzunehmen und die derart durch die Energie erzeugte Wärme zum Zweck einer späteren Abgabe an das um den Körper (12) gewickelte Haar während eines nachfolgenden Nutzungszeitraums der Rolle (10) zurückzuhalten.

20. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 19, ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Wärmerückhaltebauglied (94) eine ringförmige Röhre (96), die für das eine Ende des Körpers (12) zugänglich ist und im Querschnitt eine Ringröhrenform aufweist, die einen umschlossenen Innenhohlraum (98) definiert, und ein Wärmerückhaltematerial (110) umfaßt, das in dem umschlossenen Innenhohlraum (98) der ringförmigen Röhre (96) enthalten ist.

21. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 20, ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Wärmerückhaltebauglied (94) ein Paar von elektrischen Leitern (108) umfaßt, die ein Paar von elektrischen Anschlüssen (108A) aufweisen, die für das eine Ende des Körpers (12) zugänglich sind, und daß das Wärmerückhaltematerial (110) elektrisch leitfähig ist und in einem elektrischen Kontakt zwischen den elektrischen Leitern (108) angeordnet ist, derart, daß ein Anlegen eines elektrischen Stroms an die Anschlüsse (108A) den Strom durch die elektrischen Leiter (108) und das Wärmerückhaltematerial (110) leitet, derart, daß das Wärmerückhaltebauglied (110) dadurch erwärmt wird und ein Erwärmen der elektrischen Leiter (108) bewirkt, die die Wärme zum Zweck einer späteren Abgabe an das um den Körper (12) gewikkelte Haar während eines nachfolgenden Nutzungszeitraums der Rolle (10) zurückhalten.

22. Die Rolle gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß an einem der gegenüberliegenden Enden des Körpers (12) ein drehbares Element (28) drehbar angebracht vorgesehen ist und ein elastisches Haarverankerungselement (16) in Form eines Bandes eines dehnbaren Materials vorgesehen ist, das an dem drehbaren Element (18) an dem einen Ende des Körpers (12) befestigt ist, in Längsrichtung entlang dem Körper (12) zu dem anderen der gegenüberliegenden Enden desselben dehnbar ist und an dem anderen Ende des Körpers (12) befestigbar ist, um dadurch das um den Körper (12) gewickelte Haar an demselben zu verankern.

23. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 22, ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das drehbare Element (18) zum Zweck einer Drehung um eine Achse angebracht ist und daß das elastische Element (16) an einer von der Drehachse versetzten Stelle an dem drehbaren Element (18) befestigt ist.

24. Die Rolle (10) gemäß Anspruch 22, ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß zumindest ein Rückhaltebauglied (84) an dem anderen Ende des Körpers (12), um das das elastische Element (16) befestigbar ist, angebracht ist.

Revendications

1. Bigoudi (10) comprenant un corps allongé (12), une pince à cheveux (14) ayant une partie de lame pouvant prendre les cheveux (50) et une partie de levier (52), et un moyen (46) de montage de la pince à cheveux (14) sur le corps (12), le corps (12) ayant une forme annulaire en coupe droite autour de laquelle des cheveux peuvent être enroulés entre une paire d'extrémités opposées du corps (12) pour coiffer les cheveux d'une personne, la partie de lame (50) de la pince à cheveux (14) se prolongeant longitudinalement le long ou au-dessus d'une partie latérale externe du corps (12) et de forme courbe en coupe droite conformée à la forme annulaire en coupe droite du corps (12), le moyen de montage (46) étant monté sur une première des extrémités opposées du corps (12) et montant la pince à cheveux (14) sur le corps (12) afin de supporter un mouvement pivotant par rapport au corps (12) sur une trajectoire arquée entre une position fermée adjacente à la partie latérale externe du corps (12) et une position ouverte déplacée angulairement à partir de ladite partie latérale externe du corps (12) de sorte qu'une partie des cheveux est retenue entre la partie de lame (50) de la pince à cheveux (14) et la partie latérale externe du corps (12) quand la pince à cheveux (14) est en position fermée, et est libérée d'entre la partie de lame (50) de la pince à cheveux (14) et la partie latérale externe du corps (12) quand la pince à cheveux (14) est déplacée en pivotant vers la position ouverte, caractérisé en ce que la partie de levier (52) de la pince à cheveux (14) s'étend du moyen de montage (46) au-delà et loin de la première des extrémités opposées du corps (12) pour faciliter la prise au moyen du doigt d'un utilisateur en vue de provoquer un mouvement pivotant de la partie de levier (52) entièrement à l'extérieur de la première extrémité du corps (12), et ainsi un mouvement pivotant de la pince à cheveux (14) de la position fermée à la position ouverte.

2. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé de plus en ce que la partie de levier (52) est fixée et se prolonge à partir d'au moins une extrémité d'une paire d'extrémités opposées de ladite partie de lame (50).

3. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la partie de lame (50) de la pince à cheveux (14) possède une surface interne antérieure en vis-à-vis de la partie latérale externe du corps (12) et une pluralité de dents (54) disposées sur la surface interne et s'étendant vers l'extérieur à partir de la surface interne, les dents (54) étant espacées les unes des autres dans une direction longitudinale s'étendant entre une paire d'extrémités opposées de la partie de lame (50) de la pince à cheveux (14).

4. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé de plus en ce que le moyen de montage (46) inclut une paire de pattes espacées (56) disposées adjacentes à l'une des extrémités opposées du corps (12) et une broche (58) s'étendant entre les pattes (56) et montées de façon à pivoter à travers la pince à cheveux (14) à un endroit situé entre la lame et ses parties de levier (50, 52).

5. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 4, caractérisé de plus en ce que le moyen de montage (46) inclut de plus un ressort (48) monté sur la broche (58) et sollicitant la pince à cheveux (14) afin de la déplacer en pivotant de la position ouverte à la position fermée par rapport au corps (12).

6. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé de plus en ce que le corps (12) définit une chambre interne (30) et possède une pluralité de fentes allongées espacées (36) définies à travers le corps (12) procurant une communication de la chambre interne (30) avec les cheveux enroulés autour du corps (12), les fentes (36) étant espacées les unes des autres dans une direction circonférentielle autour du corps (12) et s'étendant dans une direction axiale le long du corps (12) à une distance supérieure à celle lorsqu'elles s'étendent dans la direction circonférentielle autour du corps (12).

7. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé de plus en ce que le corps (12) définit une chambre interne (30) et possède une pluralité de fentes allongées espacées (36) définies à travers le corps (12) procurant une communication de la chambre interne (30) avec les cheveux enroulés autour du corps (12), les fentes (36) étant espacées les unes des autres autour du corps (12) et s'étendant dans une direction hélicoïdale autour du corps (12).

8. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé de plus en ce que le corps (12) possède une pluralité d'éléments de nervures allongées (43) définis sur une surface externe du corps (12) dépassant vers l'extérieur de celle-ci et s'étendant dans une direction hélicoïdale autour du corps (12) et espacés les uns des autres le long du corps (12).

9. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que la partie de lame (50) de la pince à cheveux (14) possède une pluralité de nervures saillantes allongées (92) définies sur une surface externe de la partie de lame (50) dépassant vers l'extérieur à partir de celle-ci et s'étendant dans une direction hélicoïdale et espacées les unes des autres le long de la partie de lame (50) de la pince à cheveux (14).

10. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 9, caractérisé de plus en ce que les nervures saillantes hélicoïdales (92) sur la surface externe de la partie de lame (50) de la pince à cheveux (14) sont sensiblement alignées avec lesdits éléments de nervures hélicoïdales (43) sur la surface externe du corps (12).

11. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 8, caractérisé de plus en ce que les éléments de nervures (43) sur la surface externe du corps (12) sont interrompus et absents de la partie latérale externe du corps (12) sous-jacente à la partie de lame (50) de la pince à cheveux (14).

12. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé de plus en ce que le moyen de montage (46) inclut une douille (66) définie dans une des extrémités opposées du corps (12) et une base (18) montée de façon à pivoter sur une des extrémités opposées de la pince à cheveux (14) et à laquelle est fixée une fiche mâle (70) se projetant vers l'extérieur de la base (68) et ayant une taille en rapport avec la douille (66) afin de l'y insérer et de l'adapter de façon conjuguée à l'intérieur de la douille (66), et de cette manière, monter la base sur une extrémité du corps (12).

13. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 12, caractérisé de plus en ce que le moyen de montage (46) inclut de plus un connecteur de verrou (72) défini dans une extrémité du corps (12) adjacente à la douille (66) et un élément de verrouillage (74) connecté à la base (68) adjacente à la fiche mâle (70) et pouvant être insérée dans le connecteur de verrou (72) pendant l'insertion de la fiche mâle (70) dans la douille (66), l'élément de verrouillage (74) étant mobile entre une position verrouillée où la fiche mâle (70) est retenue dans la douille (66) et ne pouvant pas être retirée de celle-ci et une position non verrouillée où la fiche mâle (70) peut être retirée de la douille (66).

14. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé de plus en ce que la partie latérale externe du corps (12) est décalée vers l'intérieur du reste du corps (12) permettant une assise de la partie de lame (50) de la pince à cheveux (14) recouvrant la partie latérale externe sensiblement à l'intérieur d'un profil annulaire externe du corps (12).

15. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé de plus en ce qu'un élément élastique d'ancrage des cheveux (16) est fourni sous forme d'une bande sans fin faite d'une matière étirable et attachée au corps (12) adjacente à une des extrémités opposées de celui-ci et extensible longitudinalement le long du corps (12) et autour d'une autre extrémité de celui-ci de façon à s'étendre entre les extrémités opposées du corps (12) et de cette manière, ancrer sur celui-ci les cheveux enroulés autour du corps (12).

16. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 15, caractérisé de plus en ce qu'au moins un élément de retenue (84) est fourni sur l'une des extrémités opposées du corps (12) pour fixer une partie de l'élément élastique (16) à l'autre extrémité du corps (12).

17. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé de plus en ce qu'un fourreau externe poreux (18) est fourni autour du corps (12) et s'étend entre les extrémités opposées du corps (12).

18. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé de plus en ce que le corps (12) définit une chambre interne (30) et un élément calorifère (110) est prévu sous forme d'un fourreau métallique ayant une forme annulaire et étant calibré pour s'insérer et s'ajuster dans la chambre interne (30) du corps (12).

19. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé de plus en ce que le corps (12) possède une chambre interne (30) et une pluralité d'ouvertures espacées (44) définies à travers le corps (12) afin d'obtenir une communication de la chambre interne (30) vers les cheveux enroulés autour du corps (12) et la chambre interne (3) étant accessible par l'intermédiaire d'au moins une extrémité du corps (12), et un élément calorifère (94) est disposé dans la chambre interne (30) du corps (12) et est adapté pour recevoir de l'énergie produisant de la chaleur à partir d'une source externe à travers une extrémité du corps (12) et conserver la chaleur ainsi produite par l'énergie pour la libérer plus tard aux cheveux enroulés autour du corps (12) pendant une période d'utilisation ultérieure du bigoudi (10).

20. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 19, caractérisé de plus en ce que l'élément calorifère (94) inclut un tube annulaire (96) accessible à une extrémité du corps (12) et ayant une forme de tore en coupe droite définissant une cavité interne fermée (98), et une matière calorifère (110) contenue à l'intérieur de la cavité interne fermée (98) du tube annulaire (96).

21. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 20, caractérisé de plus en ce que l'élément calorifère (94) inclut une paire de conducteurs électriques (108) ayant une paire de bornes électriques (108A) accessible à une extrémité du corps (12), et la matière calorifère (110) est électriquement conductrice et disposée en contact électrique entre les conducteurs électriques (108) de sorte que l'application d'un courant électrique aux bornes (108A) fait passer le courant à travers les conducteurs électriques (108) et la matière calorifère (110) de sorte que l'élément calorifère (110) est ainsi chauffé et provoque le chauffage des conducteurs électriques (108) qui retiennent la chaleur pour la libérer plus tard aux cheveux enroulés autour du corps (12) pendant une période d'utilisation ultérieure du bigoudi (10).

22. Bigoudi selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'un élément rotatif (28) est fourni, étant monté de façon à tourner sur une des extrémités opposées du corps (12) et un élément élastique d'ancrage des cheveux (16) est prévu sous forme d'une bande de matière étirable étant attaché à l'élément rotatif (18) à une extrémité du corps (12) et extensible longitudinalement le long du corps (12) vers l'une des extrémités opposées de celui-ci et pouvant être fixé à l'autre extrémité du corps (12) pour ancrer sur celui-ci, de cette manière, les cheveux enroulés autour du corps (12).

23. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 22, caractérisé en ce que l'élément rotatif (18) est monté en vue d'une rotation autour d'un axe et l'élément élastique (16) est fixé à l'élément rotatif (18) à un endroit décalé par rapport à l'axe de rotation.

24. Bigoudi (10) selon la revendication 22, caractérisé de plus en ce qu'au moins un élément de retenue(84) est monté sur l'autre extrémité du corps (12) autour duquel l'élément élastique (16) peut être fixé.

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